Three years and counting

Before we moved here to Seattle, I was told that it generally takes 3 to 5 years to completely acclimate to a new place, to genuinely feel at home. Having now been here for just over 3 years, I think I'm beginning to understand what that means.

As Ed and I were saying the other day, the rhythm and substance of general chit-chatting is quite different here than in the middle-of-the-country, although I'm far from certain I can articulate how. What I know is that when we first got here, I continually felt as though I was talking at cross-purposes to everyone I met. Now, not so much.

I've heard more than one instance recently of someone's friend who joined them here in Seattle, but just could not adapt to the Pacific Northwest's way of doing things and approach to life. Overall, the first rule of getting along up here is "don't be a dick." Beyond that, there's a strong presumption toward approaching things on the most rational basis possible. If something makes no rational sense, it''s not going to be very popular up here.

One thing I've noticed -- over and over again -- is how much people in the PNW tend to appreciate the celebratory aspect of living. Life should not simply be endured or just gotten through. Rather, life should be celebrated, as often and in as many different ways as possible. Again, I couldn't tell you why, but I do know it's an approach to life that I can certainly endorse. If nothing else, it's definitely more fun this way.

After 3 years, things that were once unutterably strange have become our new normal, and notions that once were fairly reasonable -- like driving 40-some miles one way to get to work -- are now simply bizarre. I'm far more likely to walk someplace than drive, if only because finding parking in the city is never the easiest prospect, and walking is FAR better for me.

Seattle and its environs have in no way lost their ability to astonish us, though. This past Sunday, Ed and I went walking in the richer, northern section of Capitol Hill. While it's only a little over a mile from our part of Capitol Hill, Millionaire's Row with its major-league mansions is a world we will never truly inhabit.

Then to discover that just a bit north of that -- still less than 2 miles from the apartment -- is a little pocket park, with an overlook view of acres and acres of parkland at Interlaken and the Arboretum, Lake Washington, the University of Washington AND the Cascades; well, I suspect I will continue to be gobsmacked by my new home on a semi-regular basis. I can certainly hope so, at any rate.

Ed and I have agreed, on many occasions, that moving here was one of the best things we've ever done. If I have any say in the matter, it's where we'll stay.

Picturing Spring, Take 2

These two posts have been split apart, so as not to be too insanely long and hard to load.

So, anyhow, while I was mainly taking pictures of the flowering trees and things (see Take 1), other, man-made, things caught my eye as well.

Like this. Technically, I think it was the giant roller shade that first caught my eye, but that shaded bay window is pretty darned amazing, too. I can only imagine the views these people have.

This side of the building faces more east, so these guys are gonna be looking at the Cascades, Lake Washington and the Eastside. Residents of the earlier penthouse would have a westerly view, of the Olympics, the Bay/Sound, and Bainbridge Island.

Pretty darned amazing gingerbread work on this building of gaudy penthouses. Seriously, very cool looking.

Home of the penthouses, the Gainsborough (note the proper British-y spelling) Building. Doesn't this just look like the entrance of a magnificent building, I ask you?

While I don't know how insanely expensive buying a condo/apartment in the Gainsborough would be, I do know that very nice condos in other insanely expensive buildings in the immediate vicinity run well over $1.5 million.

Even given West Coast insanely expensive real estate prices (as compared to, say, Oklahoma, or middle-of-nowhere Central Texas), that's a whole hell of a lot of money, and not something Ed and I are likely to be venturing anywhere near in this lifetime...

Then there are the cool-looking things that don't cost an arm and a leg. Like a neighborhood church's oddities:

I haven't the vaguest notion what the hell these three things are located next to, and in the same style as other stone work on, the First Baptist Church.

Distinctly related style of stone work here on the porte-cochere. Too bad no one has coaches anymore to be able to watch those things rolling in and out

And again here on the entrance. Definitely a cool, Gothic-y looking church...

And finally, because I can't seem to NOT take pictures of it, here is the Needle with the snow-capped Olympics providing the backdrop.

Happy spring, everyone!

Picturing Spring, Take 1

The other week, whilst "oot and aboot" on a beautiful sunny day, I took my little point-n-shoot camera with me, if only to try to capture some of the spectacular flowering trees that live near me.

This is the astonishingly bright white/light pink cherry tree at the corner of Spring St. and Boren Ave. that caught my eye the day BEFORE I took this picture. It's kind of the reason I took the camera out when I did.

Just down the street from the first picture.

Community college cherry tree, hiding behind the half-wall.

Not a tree, but definitely flowering. I'm calling this Crocuses?, because I don't have a single clue.

I suspect this may be rose-related, but again, my thumb tends black, not green.

White bell flowers, of unknown make and model.

Floral detritus.

Take 2 to follow (precede) shortly....